Steven Jobe and Minneapolis dance company Three Dances are preparing an Open Rehearsals event that features Jobe’s two large-scale hurdy-gurdies. For their portion of the Music for Three Hurdy-Gurdies production, Brinsley Davis, Jamey Leonard and Suzanne Wiltgen will play Stage Hands who explore the possibilities of the instruments onstage, allowing the audience to see how they are played and the exotic sonic landscape they create.

The Open Rehearsals event was funded in part by a grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.

November 30 – December 3: ENNOBLING NONNA
December 4: CONSTITUTIONAL
December 9: JINGLE BELLES…AND A FEW BALLS 2

I have to remind you one last time about Maria Porter’s ENNOBLING NONNA. This is a fantastic physical theatre piece based upon Porter’s grandmother and Italian heritage but told through a Japanese performance technique called Suzuki. What fusion! The performance runs November 30 – December 2 at 8pm and December 3 at 7pm. Tickets are $15 General and $12 Students/Seniors/Military. They are available by visiting www.arttixri.com or by calling (401)621-6123. Do it for all the Italian grandmothers who ever Italian grandmothered. Are you having trouble deciding what to do on December 4 at 8pm? Come to the workshop of CONSTITUTIONAL: Exercises for a Body Politic Series. Tickets are $8 General and $5 Students/Seniors/Military and are available by calling the Perishable Box Office at (401)331-2695 ext 101. This is an interactive piece that will take you on a journey through perspectives on the Constitution. Think of it as speed-dating the Constitution, only with less sexual tension and fear of rejection. Make sure to get your tickets for JINGLE BELLES…AND A FEW BALLS 2, the holiday burlesque extravaganza. There will be a 7pm and 9pm show on December 9, with raffling fun taking place on the third floor. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/8660 . All the proceeds will benefit Perishable Theatre’s artistic programs. This will be sensational sassiness for the holiday season. It’s better than sitting at home alone chugging eggnog. Leave that to Mulchie. Seriously, send me your eggnog. Get more info on these events at www.perishable.org. Have a splendid week.
***************AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION************
Che Pizarro has put together an evening of pure bizarrity for 9pm on Friday Dec. 8th!
For a measly $5 you can come to Perishable Theatre and experience:
+ Piek and Flap: Belgian jazz improv
+ Kaboom Projectors: video performance art
+ Neil Salley, head of the Musee Patamecanique
+ Matt Lowe, man about town
and
+ the Zen Psychotic
Not to be missed performance art event!

DECEMBER IN THE ATRIUM GALLERY: “URBAN ARTISANS—LEARNING ENGLISH THROUGH THE LANGUAGE OF ART”

From December 4th, through December 29th, 2006, the Atrium Gallery at One Capitol Hill in Providence RI will feature works by the Genesis Center’s Urban Artisans. The Genesis Center is a multi-service organization offering a full range of services to immigrants and refugees from twenty-six countries. With support from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, an artist/educator has been facilitating weekly art workshops with a group of people who recently immigrated to Providence as part of their ESOL class at the Genesis Center. There will be a reception in the gallery with the artists on Wednesday, December 13th from 12:00–1:00 pm.

The group at The Genesis Center consists of several different cultures and languages, and they have found the creative process of making art to be a universal language helping people learn about one another and the world. This group has become a community of artists who works together to create pieces of art, and share in the joy of the creative process. Their art work is hanging in the classrooms and in the halls of the Genesis Center. They’ve painted murals, individual works on paper, roll-up blinds in classrooms, lampshades, and divider screens that now provide beautiful privacy screens for staff members who have interviews with students. This is their first exhibit in a public art-exhibition venue. The gallery and the reception are free and open to the public and are on the First Floor of the State Dept. of Administration Building, at One Capitol Hill in Providence RI. The Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. One Capitol Hill is located behind the State House, on the corner of Capitol Hill and Smith Streets. For further directions, please go to:

Over 50 artists and artisans will come together in one renovated mill building at 558-560 Mineral Spring Avenue in the City of Pawtucket to celebrate Pawtucket Open Studios Pawtucket Artists Holiday Sale which runs from Friday, December 1 through Sunday, December 3, 2006. This event is free and open to the public. Visitors may shop the large 7,000 square foot space located on the first floor filled with over 40 artist tables in addition to 3 floors of open artists studios and explore a variety of fine art, photography, pottery, clothing, sculpture, fine furnishings, demonstrations and performances which will be geared to holiday shoppers. This event is the first of its kind where a community of mostly Pawtucket-based artists have come together to sell at one location in a large renovated mill building housing artists and other creative businesses.

The Pawtucket Artists Holiday Sale is sponsored by the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative, Rhode Island Commercial Industrial Realty (RICIR) and has been made possible by the financial support of mill-owner, Jonathan Savage. Founded in October, 2000, the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting, promoting and developing the arts for the community and its artists. We do this by creating awareness, education and involvement through its members.

Stapleton announces an opportunity for integrated or incorporated public art in or within the vicinity of Havana Town Center. The budget range for this public art project is $450,000 to $600,000.

About Stapleton

The redevelopment of Denver’s former Stapleton International Airport by Forest City Enterprises, Inc. is one of the largest urban redevelopments in the nation. When fully developed in 15 years, the 4,700-acre Stapleton property, located seven miles from downtown Denver, will become a series of mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly, urban neighborhoods of 12,000 homes and apartments for 30,000 residents. Families will live within walking distance of jobs, retail, schools and public transportation. Stapleton is also projected to have 13 million square feet of offices and retail providing 35,000 jobs.

The neighborhoods at Stapleton will be enhanced by more than 1,100 acres of parks and open space. Stapleton’s commitment to “smart growth” has earned international and national recognition that includes awards from the Stockholm Partnership for Sustainable Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and The National League of Cities.

For more information about Stapleton and the Public Art Master Plan for Stapleton, please go to www.StapletonDenver.com. Havana Town Center at Stapleton:

Located generally at the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Havana Street, this pedestrian friendly Town Center will contain a mix of retail and restaurants and the possibility of residential or commercial spaces over the retail. Wide sidewalks and bicycle access/bicycle parking will be essential components. A “main street” and plaza of shops and restaurants will be located along Geneva Court. While the artist is not required to utilize the following spaces, the spaces are considered available and ready for public art:

Triangular open space at the MLK couplet initiator (west side of town center).

The retail plaza along Geneva Court.

The community will want flexibility in the public spaces to accommodate venues for community events. The Havana Town Center will feature architecture of our time. Examples of similar architecture are found in the 29th Avenue Town Center at Stapleton that was designed by 4240 Architecture, Inc., the architect designing the Havana Town Center.Bluff Lake Nature Center, a wildlife refuge located directly east of the Havana Town Center adds a unique dimension to this urban community.

The time frame for construction is to break ground in the fall of 2007 with completion in the fall of 2008.

Project Description:

The artist/artist team selected for this project will bring a broad vision to this project and work closely with the design team to identify and designate opportunities for art to be integrated into the design and the construction of the Havana Town Center area. The resulting artwork will help to generate or reinforce a sense of place in this Town Center. The Committee mentioned various options including, but not limited to, the following:

A major piece of sculpture composed of one or more elements

Artwork incorporated into the buildings

Interactive fountain

Uniquely designed paving

Criteria for selection: The Project Selection Committee will review the applications submitted based on these criteria.

Quality of the aesthetic expression demonstrated by the images submitted

Ability to envision and work with multiple solutions and diverse media

Experience in working on design teams or similar collaborative efforts

Suitability of artwork or media to the Havana Town Center project

Criteria for artwork at the Havana Town Center:

Sustainability with respect to construction and landscaping is a major goal of development at Stapleton. Artwork in this project will need to be sustainable as well.

Artwork in exterior spaces would need to be able to withstand the intense sun and temperature extremes and fluctuations characteristic of the Denver area.

Recycled materials may be used in the artwork if appropriate but that is not a requirement.

The artwork must be designed and fabricated to be durable, require minimal or infrequent maintenance and low cost maintenance.

Stapleton has adopted a Master Plan for Lighting including a “dark skies” initiative that addresses concerns for light pollution and energy efficiency as well as safety and security.

Budget:

The budget range for this project is $450,000 to $650,000. This amount covers all costs pertaining to this public art project — including, but not limited to — artist design fees, participation in the design team meetings, travel, materials, fabrication, installation and documentation of the artwork.

Application Process and Materials

The Stapleton public art program is conducting an electronic application and selection process online using CaFÉ in partnership with Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF). NOTE: All materials must be submitted in digital format. Each application must be submitted via the CaFÉ web site at www.callforentry.org< http://www.callforentry.org> and must include:1 – A current resume for each artist and/or team member that highlights professional accomplishments as an artist or artist team.

2 – Eight (8)digital images of relevant work. Accompanying image annotation must list media, size, title, date and a brief description of the artwork if necessary. To ensure that each image submitted is shown to its best advantage, please display only one view of the artwork in each image submitted. If necessary, you may include one detail view of the work within the general image. Note: Eight images are required for the application to be accepted on CaFÉ.

3 – Artists who would like to submit a proposal for media or sound-based work must complete the full Havana Town Center application on CaFÉ, including eight (8) images that represent the visual component of the work. In addition, media or sound materials must be sent separately to: Barbara Neal, PO Box 6982, Denver, CO 80206-0982. Samples of media or sound work must be in DVD format. DVDs must be able to be played in a standard DVD player. Media and sound materials must be postmarked by the December 21, 2006 deadline.

4 – An artist’s statement not to exceed 250 words that addresses the artist’s/team’s aesthetic concerns and how they would be integrated into this site. For more information on using the CaFÉ system, click on the “Tech Tips”, “Questions?” or “Image Prep” buttons. If you require further assistance regarding CaFÉ, contact us via e-mail at: café@westaf.org.

Deadline:The application, images and other required materials must be submitted electronically by midnight, Thursday, December 21st, 2006 Mountain Standard Time to www.callforentry.org.

Image review: On January 18, 2007 the Project Selection Committee composed of residents of Stapleton, the community and arts professionals will review application materials, images and sound submissions. The Committee plans to select three finalists based on the work demonstrated by the images submitted and the artist’s relevant experience. Three finalists will be invited to interview. Proposals for this specific project will not be required for the interviews. Travel stipends will be provided to the finalists living beyond a 100-mile radius of the metropolitan Denver area. Notification can be expected by January 26, 2007.

Finalist interviews: On February 13, 2007, the Project Selection Committee will interview the finalists and make a recommendation for the commission. This recommendation will be reviewed by the Public Art Advisory Committee for Stapleton and then referred to the owner of the artwork, the Board of The Park Creek Metropolitan District, for final approval.

Anticipated notification of finalist(s): February 23, 2007.

Additional Information for Applicants:

Eligibility: Applicants must be legal residents of the United States.

Equal Opportunity: It is the policy of The Park Creek Metropolitan District that minorities and women together with all other persons shall have maximum opportunity to compete for and participate in the performance of all contracts, subcontracts and services awarded for Stapleton’s Public Art Program. The Park Creek Metropolitan District and its contractors shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or sex in the award and performance of all contracts.

The Alaska State Council on the Arts (ASCA) announces a Call for Art for the Sitka High School and Performing Arts Center, Sitka Alaska.At this time, the Sitka School District Public Art Committee requests proposals for exterior and interior art. Artists are invited to submit concept proposals for artwork to be commissioned for multiple sites. This call is open to all statewide and national artists or teams of artists.

Total Budget for Art: $75,000

Postmark Submission Deadline: December 29, 2006.

Please visit Artist Opportunities on the ASCA website for more information.

December 16-17: The Providence Singers and artistic director Andrew Clark present Joyful Gifts – concerts in Providence and Bristol, celebrating the wonder and warmth of the holiday season. This year’s blend of classics, carols and festive new music includes:
• classics by Handel, Lauridsen and Rutter
• selections from Poulenc’s Gloria – a preview of the Singers’ April appearance with the RI Philharmonic
• the Rhode Island première of Dan Locklair’s joyous Christmas cantata, En Natus Est Emmanuel
• fresh takes on holiday favorites and “chestnuts”
• and a special Hallelujah singalong!Guest performers include the Rhode Island Children’s Chorus, led by Christine Noel, and award-winning organist Andrew Galuska. The concert will be presented on Saturday, December 16 at the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul in Providence, and on Sunday, December 17 at St. Mary’s Church in Bristol.Concert Listing:

The Providence Singers: Joyful Gifts
December 16, 7:30 pm, Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul, 30 Fenner St., Providence
December 17, 3:00 pm, St. Mary’s Church, 330 Wood St., Bristol
Celebrate with the season’s best classics, carols, festive new music, and a special Hallelujah singalong!
Andrew Clark, conductor; with the Rhode Island Children’s Chorus, Christine Noel, music director, and Andrew Galuska, organist.
Tickets: $24 adults, $5 students; discounts for seniors, WGBH/WSBE, advance purchases, groups of six or more. Available at http://www.ArtTixRI.com or 401.621.6123.
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The Providence Singers celebrates the choral art through concerts of masterworks and contemporary works, new music commissions, education programs, and creative collaborations.Established in 1971, the Providence Singers is a leading choral performance and education organization serving southern New England. the 100-voice, annually auditioned chorus presents a four-concert season, performs with professional orchestras and ensembles, and commissions new works to celebrate and advance the choral tradition. The Providence Singers offers intensive choral education programs for 4th-12th grade students, in partnership with The Music School of the Rhode Island Philharmonic.

New installment of radio show to air December 1st-3rd on 1290 WRNITrinity Rep is pleased to announce the December Holiday installment of their new radio show – Trinity Rep Radio Theater, created in partnership with WRNI, Rhode Island’s NPR News Station. This new one hour program will air monthly and feature performances by Trinity Rep artists, recorded live at WRNI studios in Providence. Hosted by WRNI’s Morning Edition Host Bob Seay, the Holiday edition of the show will air the weekend of December 1st-3rd on 1290 WRNI.The December episode features the talents of Curt Columbus and company members Stephen Berenson, Tim Crowe and Janice Duclos. Keeping with the theme of Trinity Rep’s current production of A Christmas Carol, the program features performance and discussion of the holiday themed work of Charles Dickens. The show will feature two excerpts from A Christmas Carol; an excerpt from The Pickwick Papers; and excerpts from the short story The Christmas Tree. The holiday show will broadcast on 1290 WRNI Friday, December 1st at 8:00pm, Saturday, December 2nd at 1:00pm and Sunday, December 3rd at 11:00am. For more information, and to download a podcast of Trinity Rep Radio Theater, please visit their website at http://www.wrni.org.The show continues with work from Irish playwrights & poets set to air December 29-31 to complement Trinity Rep’s production of Dublin Carol by Conor McPherson.Since its founding in 1964, Trinity Repertory Company has been one of the most respected regional theaters in the country. Featuring an acclaimed resident acting company, Trinity Rep presents a balance of world premiere, contemporary, and classic works, including six subscription productions, an annual production of A Christmas Carol, for an estimated annual audience of nearly 160,000. In its 42-year history, the theater has presented 54 world premieres, mounted national and international tours, and, through its graduate-level theater arts conservatory, trained hundreds of new actors and directors. Project Discovery, Trinity Rep’s pioneering educational outreach program launched in 1966, introduces over 30,000 Rhode Island and Massachusetts students a year to live theater. Trinity Rep’s 43rd season includes Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov, translated and directed by Curt Columbus; A Christmas Carol, by Adrian Hall and Richard Cumming; Dublin Carol by Conor McPherson; Our Town by Thornton Wilder; A Delicate Balance by Edward Albee; The Fantasticks with music by Harvey Schmidt, book and lyrics by Tom Jones and The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl. For more information, call the box office at (401) 351-4242 or visit Trinity Rep’s website at http://www.trinityrep.com.WRNI is a non-profit organization supported by listeners and corporate underwriters. WRNI is a member of the WBUR Group, respected throughout New England as a primary source of thorough, intelligent coverage of local, national and international news. In 1998, WBUR, Boston’s NPR radio station, brought public radio news to Rhode Island for the first time by coordinating the acquisition of WRNI(1290 AM) in Providence. On May 1, 1998, WRNI began serving eastern Rhode Island and neighboring communities with a full service of international, national and local news programming. WRNI-AM won the prestigious regional “News Station of the Year” award from the Associated Press in 2003 and 2004. Its sister station, WXNI, 1230 AM in Westerly, was acquired in 1999. Combined, the station serves Greater Providence, Fall River, Narragansett Bay, southwestern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut. WRNI is licensed to The WRNI Foundation and is a member of National Public Radio. WRNI also broadcasts a selection of BBC programs and locally produced programs such as “Here & Now,” “On Point,” “Only a Game,” and “Car Talk.”For more information, and to download a podcast of Trinity Rep Radio Theater, please visit their website at http://www.wrni.org.

Open Reception for local watercolorist Kathy Martino on December 3, 2006“A Christmas Carol” in The Black Box Theatre; Performances begin December 7, 2006A Multi-Cultural Holiday Event and Open House on December 9, 2006 Submission Deadline for Short Film Festival is December 29, 2006

TheArtists’ Exchange is a non-profit organization and artists’ collaborative whose mission is to integrate artists of all ages and levels into the world of both visual and performing arts. It is the home of “The Art Company”, “The Black Box Theatre”, and other independent artists and studios…

The Artists’ Exchange is now displaying regular monthly art shows with local artists in our “Main Gallery”. Starting on December 3, 2006 running thru December 31, 2006, Rhode Island Artist Kathy Martino will be showcasing her work of original watercolors with us! The public is invited to attend a freeOpening Reception with Kathy in attendance on December 3, 2006 from 4-6pm.Also held over from last month will be the works of newcomer Kirk Wittman showingin our “Second Gallery”. Local artists interest in showcasing their work in future shows with the Artists’ Exchange, please contact Celia at czanger@windmillstudio.net. Last month’s Opening welcomed and displayed the works from the well loved, Maxwell Mays in our “Main Gallery”. His work remains on display until December 30.

THE BLACK BOX THEATRE, home at The Artists’ Exchange, presents this year’s “A Christmas Carol” produced and directed by Rich Morra, has several scheduled performances from Thursday, December 7, 2006 thru Saturday December 16, 2006. At this time all performances are sold out, but additional performances are quickly being scheduled. Call Rich at 490-9475 for more information and your ticket reservations!

The Artists Exchange also invites the public to our annual Multi-Cultural Holiday Event and Open Houseon Saturday, December 9, 2006. Feel free to stop by anytime from 10am-3pm. There is no charge for admission. There’s something for the whole family! Children can purchase Passports to Crafts, which allows them to journey thru three of our holiday, decorated studios to learn about the origins of Christmas, Hanukah, and Kwanzaa, then create a traditional craft from that celebration to keep. Individual crafters will be given a Passport, which will be stamped, at each station. Passports are $8.00. (Discount Family Packages Available). Also offered will be Gingerbread Decorating – A great family fun activity, $8 per house. Take it home or enter our contest where prizes will be awarded to top winners! Judging begins at 2:45pm. Reservations recommended, call Karen at 785-4278. Also available FREE during the open house, playing in our Second Stage Theatre, will be Holiday Movies with free popcorn!

The evening social will also feature new acquisitions from Stone Fetish Sculptors Andy and Roberta Abeita (Isleta Pueblo). The Abeitas have earned recognition and placement in the most significant private collections, including Anthony Quinn, Michael Douglas, and Kevin Costner. They have amassed over 50 top awards from the leading venues across the United States, and are collected internationally.

Known as Rhode Island’s premier destination for viewing and acquiring true museum-caliber, fine art, 17 Peck will unveil many works specifically executed for our gallery by the leading voices in Contemporary Art.

Request for Qualifications:Deadline: 9 am (CST), December 14, 2006:Honey Creek Resort State Park,Iowa Department of Natural Resources, State of Iowa Art in State BuildingsProgram.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is seeking one or more artists (or an artist team) to integrate art into the “Great Room” and the environs of the 108 room lodge to be constructed at Honey Creek Resort State Park, which is located in Appanoose County, Iowa. The total budget for the project is $195,000. The committee is seeking artists experienced with 1) a variety types of materials and types of public art, including, but not limited to artist-designed wall and floor treatments and artist-designed furniture and building parts; 2) experienced in working in a collaborative effort with project design teams to integrate art into the project; 3) interest in integrating design elements of the art project into other areas of the park; and 4) incorporating Sustainable Design in the project; a holistic, integrated approach to building design that seeks to minimize negative impacts to the natural environment, optimize the quality of the indoor environment, and optimize long-term costs of operating and maintaining buildings. The total art budget for the project is $195,000. Construction funds may also be available if the work is integrated into the design of the building and construction materials. The selected artist (or artist team) will receive a fee of $2,500 plus be reimbursed for travel expense at the state reimbursement rate to develop a design concept for the project. The deadline for receipt of materials is 9 am (CST), December 14, 2006. This is not a postmark deadline.

The campaign aims to put art at the heart of society and to build a new cultural social landscape in which everyone would have the opportunity to make art and enjoy the very best in art, visual and design literacy would be recognised as an essential component of personal development, and high quality design would be a feature of all new communities and regeneration schemes.

Doesn’t that sound great?!

Mark O’Neill, the director of Museums and Galleries for Glasgow, goes on to say something that is out of RISCA’s current mantra: “It sees art, like other aspects of culture, as integral to the development of a vibrant communal life, a high-performing economy and a more socially just society.”

The Scenes of Rhode Island Exhibition and Awards was established as a partnership between the Governor’s Office and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, for the purpose of promoting the artistic talent and aesthetic beauty which abounds throughout the State.

Governor Donald Carcieri and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts invite Rhode Island Artists to submit work for the Scenes of Rhode Island Exhibit and Awards. Works must be two-dimensional, original works of art that in some way depict the Ocean State and that have not been previously entered into the Scenes of Rhode Island Exhibition and Awards, nor have been reproduced or widely shown. The Scenes of Rhode Island Exhibition and Awards were established as a partnership between the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and the Governor’s Office for the purpose of providing the Governor and Mrs. Carcieri with an original one-of-a-kind image of Rhode Island for personal and professional use and distribution, and to the promote the artistic talent and aesthetic beauty of the state.

Elemental Theatre is seeking actors for its January production of original short plays written by company members. We would like to hear actors read from the plays at an informal audition on Monday, November 27 from 7 – 9 pm at Perishable Theatre, 2nd floor. Come join us! We will have sides from the plays available, and actors to read with you; feel free to bring a monologue if that is more comfortable. Email elementaltheatre@hotmail.com for more information, or call Alex at (646) 853-5296.